When Indiana Asbury, now Depauw University, first opened its doors to women in 1867, its first women students were looking for ways to make friends and find support and encouragement for their academic pursuits.

When Bettie Locke Hamilton wanted full membership in a male fraternity, the men asked her to wear their badge as a "mascot." She responded, "If you won't initiate me into your fraternity, I'll start my own." Thus, Kappa Alpha Theta was established on January 27, 1870 by Bettie Locke Hamilton, Alice Allen Brant, Bettie Tipton Lindsey, and Hannah Fitch Shaw.

Theta is an international organization with college and alumnae chapters throughout the United States and Canada. The Fraternity is a not-for-profit Indiana corporation, with Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Fraternity's philanthropic arm, the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation, supports the Fraternity's educational programs and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Theta's international philanthropy. The Foundation annually awards more than $300,000 in graduate and undergraduate scholarships to members.

Our history at Texas Tech University begins in 1926 when five young ladies came to study at what was formally Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas. The young women formed a social group under the name Gamma Pi Alpha. After two years, they were told that Greek organizations were not allowed on campus; therefore the group had to either change their name or be disbanded.

The social group changed their name to San Souci, a French term for "without a care". It would not be long before they were joined by four other women's social groups at the university.

Finally, in 1952, with the support of two influential members of the Texas Tech Board of Directors, National Greek organizations were petitioned to be allowed on campus. San Souci petitioned to become Kappa Alpha Theta, believing it was the only sorority that matched their standards of excellence.

On April 25, 1953, with the assistance of national officers, the members of San Souci were initiated into the Gamma Phi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at Texas Tech University. In 2013, we will proudly celebrate 60 years of the Gamma Phi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta.

Sharon Disney Brown & Diane Disney Miller
Daughters of Walt Disney
"Let's Go Fly a Kite" from Mary Poppins was written for them

Tory Burch
Fashion Designer
University of Pennsylvania

Laura Bush
Former U.S. First Lady
Southern Methodist University

Jenna Bush
Daughter of Former U.S. President
The University of Texas at Austin

Barbara Bush
Daughter of Former U.S. President
Yale University

Lynne Cheney
Wife of Former U.S. Vice President
Colorado College

Sarah Clarke
Actress on 24
Indiana University

Taylor Cole
Cast Member on Laguna Beach
University of Arizona

Joan Cooney
Creator of Sesame Street
University of Arizona

Sheryl Crow
Recording Artist
University of Missouri

Melinda Gates
Wife of Bill Gates
Duke University

Glenna Goodacre
Lubbock Native; Designed Sacagawea Dollar
Colorado College

Amy Grant
Recording Artist
Vanderbilt University

Marjorie Husted
Creator of Betty Croker
University of Minnesota

Katie Lee Joel
Chef & Wife of Billy Joel
Miami University

Ann-Margaret
Actress in Grumpy Old Men
Northwestern University

Cindy McCain
Wife of U.S. Senator John McCain
USC

Rue McClanahan
Actress on The Golden Girls
Tulsa University

Whitney Port
Star of MTV’s The City
USC

Kerri Strug
Olympic Gymnast & Gold Medalist
UCLA

Marlo Thomas
Actress
USC

Koren Zailckas
Author of Smashed
Syracuse